Quick answer: SARS eFiling is the South African Revenue Service’s free platform at www.sarsefiling.co.za for filing the ITR12 return, payments and tax account management. Filing season for individuals typically opens in July, with many taxpayers receiving an auto-assessment first. Before the season, estimate your position with the free South Africa PAYE calculator.
What you can do on SARS eFiling
- File your ITR12 — the annual individual income tax return, pre-populated with employer IRP5 data.
- Accept or edit an auto-assessment — SARS pre-assesses many non-provisional taxpayers from third-party data.
- Pay SARS or claim refunds — payments and refund tracking run through the platform.
- Provisional tax (IRP6) — provisional taxpayers file twice-yearly estimates.
- Manage your profile — banking details, security contact details and tax practitioner access.
How to register for eFiling
- Go to www.sarsefiling.co.za and choose Register.
- Enter your South African ID (or passport for foreign nationals), tax reference number and contact details.
- SARS verifies your identity and sends a one-time PIN (OTP) to your registered phone or email.
- No tax number yet? SARS can issue one as part of eFiling registration — you do not need to visit a branch first.
- Prefer mobile? The SARS MobiApp covers the same core functions.
Auto-assessment: accept or file?
Each season SARS issues auto-assessments to many non-provisional taxpayers, built from employer IRP5s, medical scheme certificates and retirement fund data. If it is complete and correct, you do nothing — the assessment stands. File a corrected ITR12 if you have extra income (rental, freelance, crypto, investments) or deductions SARS could not see (a travel logbook, home office, additional retirement contributions). Missing the correction window can lock in a wrong assessment, so check the numbers early.
Documents checklist
| Document | Comes from | Needed for |
|---|---|---|
| IRP5 / IT3(a) | Each employer | Employment income and PAYE already deducted |
| Medical scheme certificate | Medical aid | Medical tax credits and additional expenses |
| Retirement annuity certificate | Fund administrator | Retirement contribution deduction (up to 27.5% of income, R350,000 cap) |
| IT3(b) / IT3(c) | Banks and brokers | Interest, dividends and capital gains |
| Travel logbook | You | Travel allowance claims |
Source: sars.gov.za. Verified July 2026 — SARS announces exact season dates each year.
Related AfroTools pages
South Africa PAYE Calculator
SARS brackets, rebates, UIF and medical credits — estimate take-home pay for 2025/26.
Open calculator →SARS eFiling FAQ
What is SARS eFiling?
SARS eFiling is the South African Revenue Service’s free online platform at www.sarsefiling.co.za for submitting tax returns, making payments and managing your tax affairs. Individuals file the ITR12 through it; the SARS MobiApp offers the same core functions.
When does tax season open?
Filing season for individuals typically opens in July each year for the tax year that ended in February, with auto-assessment notices issued first. SARS announces the exact dates each year on sars.gov.za.
Do I have to file if I got an auto-assessment?
No — if the auto-assessment is complete and correct, it stands automatically. File a corrected ITR12 only if income or deductions are missing.
How do I reset my eFiling password?
Use Forgot Username/Password on the login page. The OTP goes to your registered security contact details; if those are outdated, update them through SARS before resetting.
Is AfroTools connected to SARS?
No. AfroTools is an independent calculator site. Use it to estimate PAYE and take-home pay, then complete all official actions on SARS eFiling.
Disclaimer: AfroTools is not affiliated with the South African Revenue Service. This guide is for general information only and is not tax advice. Season dates, thresholds and platform steps change — always confirm on sars.gov.za or with a registered tax practitioner.